* <eat name="Thomas Waldos‎" alt="" address="238 Grand Ave Paonia" directions="" phone="+1-970-527-5797" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">It Should be noted that Thomas Waldos IS A BAR. In the basement of Fiesta Vallarta, although from time to time in the summer they have a BBQ on the back patio.</eat>

* <eat name="Thomas Waldos‎" alt="" address="238 Grand Ave Paonia" directions="" phone="+1-970-527-5797" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">It Should be noted that Thomas Waldos IS A BAR. In the basement of Fiesta Vallarta, although from time to time in the summer they have a BBQ on the back patio.</eat>

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*<eat name="Fresh & Wyld Farmhouse Inn" alt="" address="1978 Harding Rd" directions="" phone="970-527-4374" url="www.freshandwyld.com" hours="6pm Friday" price="$-$$" lat="" long="">Fresh and Wyld is an organic B&B and restaurant featuring a seasonal and local menu. Friday Dinner: April-Thanksgiving @ 6pm. Brunch: May-Sept from 10:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m. If we're making breakfast, you can join us any day of the week! Call for more info.

</eat>

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*<sleep name="Bross Hotel" alt="" address="312 Onarga St Paonia" directions="" phone="+1-970-527-6776" url="http://www.paonia-inn.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">An authentic 100 year old lodging, the Bross first opened in 1906 by Deputy Sheriff W. T. Bross. At the time it was considered "the only really first-class hotel in the county". Homemade quilts on the beds. Ask about the Ghost Room, haunted by the friendly ghost of Mother Bross. </sleep>

*<sleep name="Bross Hotel" alt="" address="312 Onarga St Paonia" directions="" phone="+1-970-527-6776" url="http://www.paonia-inn.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">An authentic 100 year old lodging, the Bross first opened in 1906 by Deputy Sheriff W. T. Bross. At the time it was considered "the only really first-class hotel in the county". Homemade quilts on the beds. Ask about the Ghost Room, haunted by the friendly ghost of Mother Bross. </sleep>

Understand

Comprised of environmentalists, new age-ers, artists, activists, as well as coal miners, organic farmers and ranchers, Paonia prides itself on its off-beat culture.

For a small town, Paonia is a bastion of progressive media, community activism and liberal thinking. Downtown Paonia boasts The High Country News[18], an internationally award winning environmental newspaper renown for its investigative jourinalism. KVNF (90.9 FM) [19] is a left-leaning Paonia-based public radio station that broadcasts from Grand Junction to Lake City.

Grand Avenue in Paonia is an eclectic mix of art galleries and boutique shops, and makes for a diverting couple of hours of browsing.

It's somehow fitting that a town filled with so many aging Flower Children from the 1960s is also named after a flower. Incorporated in 1881, Paonia was named by its founder, Samuel Wade, for the peony rootstock which he brought with him by covered wagon. Wade submitted the Latin name for the flower, "Paeonia" as the official town name to the US Postal Service. Unfortunately, the Post Office wouldn't allow the extra vowel. So the name got shortened to "Paonia."

Paonia is a rich agricultural region with many orchards, organic farms and vineyards. In 2001, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms designated the mesas around Paonia as the "West Elks American Viticultural Area." At 6,417 ft (1956 m) above sea level, this wine region is amongst the highest in the world. Grapes grown in the area include Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir.

Get in

By plane

Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, (also known as Sardy Field) (IATA: ASE) (ICAO: KASE)), [20]. Major carriers to Aspen include United, US Airways, Delta Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. ASE is a small airport for small planes only, and traffic tends to stop in any inclement weather. Flying into Denver Airport and driving up to Aspen is more reliable and often cheaper.

Denver International Airport[22], (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN). Commonly referred to as DIA. It is located about 20 miles to the east of downtown. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here.

Grand Junction Regional Airport[23], (IATA: GJT, ICAO: KGJT), otherwise known as Walker Field, is served by six airlines with nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Some service is seasonal.

Get around

Downtown Paonia is only a few blocks and is easily navigated by foot. For the rest of the area, you will need a car or a bike. Paonia is just 9 mi away from
Hotchkiss, home of the Delta County Fair, held every August.

North Fork Historical Museum, 1514 Highway 187 Paonia, ☎+1-970-527-7440. Set in Paonia River Park, features 19th and 20th century history at the Paonia Museum and the Bowie Schoolhouse Museum call 1-970-527-7440

Itineraries

Delta, Montrose, Paonia & Hotchkiss - Follow US 92 west along the Gunnison River. Turn north on US 65 and stop at the wineries along Surface Creek, on the south slope of Grand Mesa [26], the largest flattop mountain in the world. Or, travel along the North Fork of the Gunnison River on US 92 east out of Delta and then US 133. This will take you to Hotchkiss and Paonia, where you will find yourself in the West Elks AVA.

Do

Mountain Biking

Tabeguache Trail, ☎+1-970-244-3000, [8]. Trail crosses public land for 142 miles connecting Montrose and Grand Junction, Colorado. The Tabeguache Trail begins in Shavano Valley and weaves through the canyons, mesas and highlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau before ending in "No Thoroughfare Canyon," a few miles west of Grand Junction.

Fishing

Crawford Resevoir, ☎+1-800-678-CAMP ([email protected]). Created by Crawford Dam which crosses Iron Creek, a tributary of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River. Fishing, boating, waterskiing, sailboarding, and swimming.

Paonia State Park, ☎+1-970-921-5721, [9]. 24 hours. Scenery, water-skiing, wildflowers and camping, all in view of the Ragged Mountains

Winery tours

The West Elks AVA is home to many fine wineries in Colorado's Wine Country. Spend an afternoon tasting and buying local wines.

Elisabethan, 111-B 1st St Paonia (Behind High Country Printing), ☎+1-970-527-4073. Eclectic boutique features clothing and accessories for women and children made from reclaimed and vintage fabrics, jewelry, quilts and homemade jams

Expressions Book Store‎, 302 2nd St Paonia, ☎+1-970-527-6450. A general bookstore that includes a new art show every 2-3 months, pottery, local music and Putumayo CDs.

Thomas Waldos‎, 238 Grand Ave Paonia, ☎+1-970-527-5797. It Should be noted that Thomas Waldos IS A BAR. In the basement of Fiesta Vallarta, although from time to time in the summer they have a BBQ on the back patio.

Sleep

Bross Hotel, 312 Onarga St Paonia, ☎+1-970-527-6776, [13]. An authentic 100 year old lodging, the Bross first opened in 1906 by Deputy Sheriff W. T. Bross. At the time it was considered "the only really first-class hotel in the county". Homemade quilts on the beds. Ask about the Ghost Room, haunted by the friendly ghost of Mother Bross.

Lamborn B & B, ☎+1-970-527-8911 ([email protected]), [16]. Detached cottage as well as 3 guest rooms in the main house, each with en suite bath. Country breakfast in the sunny breakfast room, or on the deck.

Uncompahgre National Forest[32] - Over a million acres comprise some of the most spectacular views in the Rockies.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!